The Difference Between Being Busy and Belonging, How Social Isolation May Accelerate Biological Aging, and Tax-Smart Charitable Giving

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Fiction: The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan – A lonely woman inherits a house filled with lost possessions and sets out to reunite them with their owners, discovering unexpected friendships, secrets, and second chances along the way.

History (Non-Fiction): The Black Death, 1346–1353: The Complete History by Ole J. Benedictow – This comprehensive history examines the devastating plague that swept across Europe, exploring its spread, staggering death toll, and lasting impact on medieval society.

Memoir: Becoming by Michelle Obama – This candid memoir traces a journey from childhood on Chicago's South Side to the White House, reflecting on family, career, motherhood, and life as First Lady.

Self-Help: The Art of Aging by Sherwin B. Nuland – This thoughtful guide explores the physical and emotional realities of growing older, offering insights into maintaining independence, finding purpose, and embracing later life with dignity.

Romance: The Love Scam by MaryJanice Davidson – A wealthy businessman wakes up in a strange hotel room with no memory of the previous night, setting off a chaotic adventure involving a mysterious woman, unexpected responsibilities, and a surprising romance.

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A full calendar doesn’t automatically produce a sense of involvement.

You can spend an entire week running errands, attending appointments, working around the house, and checking things off a list. You would certainly be busy—but would you feel connected to anything beyond your own routine?

Sometimes one meaningful commitment can provide more satisfaction than a calendar filled with activities.

Think about the places where people notice whether you show up.

Perhaps you're part of a theater group and always help arrange the programs. Maybe you attend a weekly card game where everyone has their usual seat. Perhaps you volunteer at a local event each year, belong to a gardening club, or regularly help prepare coffee after a community board meeting.

Your contribution doesn't have to be important or impressive. Instead, what separates involvement from presence is the feeling that you're not simply attending. You're part of what makes the activity happen.

The best involvement often develops gradually.

Say you join a book club solely because you enjoy reading. After a few months, you've met several people and now linger to chat with them after meetings. . Eventually, you suggest titles for the next month and start to host events. Then one day, you’re the one welcoming a newcomer and introducing them to the other members.

Rather than asking, "How can I keep busy?" try asking, "Where would I enjoy becoming a regular?" That small change in the question can lead to very different choices—and very different outcomes.

Being part of something doesn't require joining five organizations.

One regular commitment may be plenty, particularly if it introduces you to people you enjoy, gives you something to anticipate, and allows you to contribute in a way that feels natural.

That one commitment may turn into others, but the difference is that you likely already know whether you’d enjoy that new commitment or simply take it up to stay busy.

Leave room for unplanned days, too. Involvement should add something to your life, not make every week feel overbooked.

Busyness fills time. Involvement creates connection.

The difference frequently comes down to having people who know your name, a place where your contribution is appreciated, and the pleasant feeling that if you weren't there, someone might ask, "Where were you?"

We're looking for seniors who are embracing life with enthusiasm, purpose, and adventure. Whether you're traveling the world, starting a business, volunteering, pursuing a passion, learning new skills, or simply making the most of every day, we'd love to hear your story.

Think that might be you?

Email [email protected] with a photo and a short bio. We may feature you in an upcoming edition of Seniors Magazine.

A familiar voice on the telephone can make an ordinary afternoon feel special.

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“A Letter from an Old Friend”
From the life overview of Edward C., 82, Albany, New York. Shared with permission.

In 2008, I received a letter from my friend Peter. I hadn’t seen him in forty-six years. We had served together in the Navy in the early 1960s and were stationed aboard the same ship for nearly two years. After we were discharged, we exchanged a few letters before losing touch.

The envelope arrived on a Tuesday. I recognized the handwriting before I saw his name on the return address. Inside was a three-page letter written on yellow lined paper. Peter explained that he had found my name in a veterans’ newsletter and decided to try his luck.

He reminded me of things I had almost forgotten: a storm in the Pacific that made dishes slide across the mess hall, a chief petty officer who could fall asleep standing up, and a night we spent in Japan after we missed the last bus back to the ship and couldn’t find our way to the harbor.

I laughed so loudly that my wife heard me from the other room. She asked what was so funny, and I began sharing the stories with her. By the time I finished, we had been sitting at the kitchen table for nearly an hour.

The following week, I wrote Peter a letter of my own. He and I began exchanging letters every month or so. We discussed our families, our health, the indignities of getting older, and even what the weather was like. He sent me photographs of his grandchildren, so I sent him one of my garden. He said mine looked better than his.

We finally spoke on the telephone that Christmas. Of course, his voice sounded older and raspier than I remembered. But when he laughed, I could still hear that young sailor I had known almost half a century earlier.

Peter passed away in 2014. However, I keep his letters saved in a shoebox in my study. Every now and then, I take one out and read it again.

***

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There's something wonderfully satisfying about creating a rhythm with your own hands. Whether you're tapping out a steady beat, playing along with a favorite song, or joining a group of percussionists, drumming offers a creative way to explore music without needing to learn melodies or chords.

You don't need a full drum kit or previous musical experience to begin. A simple hand drum, practice pad, or even a tabletop can introduce you to the basics.

Different drums offer different playing experiences.

A djembe is a goblet-shaped hand drum traditionally associated with West African music. It produces deep bass tones and sharper sounds depending on where and how you strike the drumhead.

A bongo set consists of two small drums played with the hands, while a cajón is a wooden box drum that you sit on and strike to create bass and snare-like sounds.

For beginners interested in drumsticks, a practice pad offers a quiet, inexpensive introduction to basic techniques.

Explore hand drums and percussion instruments or drum practice pads to compare options.

Start by keeping a steady beat. Tap four evenly spaced beats while counting aloud: one, two, three, four.

Next, alternate between stronger and softer beats. Try emphasizing beats one and three, then experiment with different patterns.

If you're using a hand drum, practice producing contrasting sounds by striking near the center and closer to the edge.

Drumeo's free drum lessons offer instructional videos and resources for developing rhythm and technique.

Group drumming can be especially enjoyable because participants build rhythms together.

Look for community drum circles, percussion workshops, or beginner classes at music schools and recreation centers.

Meetup can help you search for local drumming groups and music gatherings.

You can also invite friends to experiment with simple percussion instruments, taking turns establishing rhythms and adding new patterns.

Try playing along with favorite recordings, beginning with songs that have a clear, steady beat.

Record a short rhythm on your phone and experiment with adding another pattern over it. As your timing improves, explore different musical traditions, from Afro-Cuban percussion to jazz and rock.

Start with brief practice sessions and keep the volume comfortable, particularly when using louder instruments.

Drumming doesn't have to lead to performances or complicated techniques. Sometimes the pleasure is simply in finding a rhythm, following it, and seeing where it takes you.

Unlocking your phone with your face or fingerprint may seem less secure than entering a password, but modern biometric technology can provide strong protection. Understanding how it works can help you decide whether to use it.

Biometric authentication uses unique physical characteristics, such as your facial features or fingerprints, to verify your identity.

Apple's Face ID uses specialized sensors to create a mathematical representation of your face. This information is encrypted and stored securely on your device rather than uploaded to Apple's servers.

Android phones offer similar features, although security varies by manufacturer and device. Some facial recognition systems use ordinary cameras, making them less secure than systems with dedicated depth sensors.

Biometric unlocking is generally convenient and secure, but no system is completely foolproof.

Your phone will still require a PIN or passcode in certain situations, such as after restarting. Choose a strong, unique passcode rather than an easily guessed birthday.

On an iPhone, manage Face ID under Settings > Face ID & Passcode. On Android, look under Settings > Security & Privacy or Biometrics.

For additional protection, enable automatic screen locking and keep your phone's software updated.

Today: Norwegian Fjords, Norway

Norway’s fjord country delivers soaring mountains, waterfalls, peaceful villages, and some of Europe’s most dramatic scenery. Trains, ferries, and scenic cruises allow you to experience much of it without strenuous hiking.

Ingrid’s Tip: Resist the temptation to cover too much territory. Choose a few scenic journeys and stay overnight along the way—the fjords are much more enjoyable when the transportation itself becomes part of the experience.

Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object. Think you know it? Reply with your answer and show off your brainpower.

Today’s clue: Old-fashioned household item rung to announce mealtime.

NDNIRE LEBL

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